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'Defanged' HIV used to deliver gene therapy

Researchers are having success using a "defanged" version of HIV to deliver gene therapy to children suffering from genetic diseases, a development that could improve other such care.

15 Jul 2013

First Edition: July 12, 2013

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including articles on data tracking of doctors and comparing the rollout of the Medicare Part D drug plans to implementation of the federal health law.

12 Jul 2013

International team explores genetic diversity of Plasmodium vivax in the Americas

Human migrations - from the prehistoric epoch to the present day - have extended cultures across the globe. With these travelers have come unwanted stowaways: mosquito-borne parasites belonging to the Plasmodium species - a group responsible for malaria, worldwide.

12 Jul 2013

Genome sequencing promises to identify rare mutations that give rise to autism

An international consortium, consisting of Autism Speaks, Duke University School of Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children of Toronto, BGI and other institutes, has investigated the genetic variants in 32 families with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

12 Jul 2013

Risk-factor screening of high-risk children may delay or prevent chronic health conditions later in life

Mexican American children are experiencing substantial burdens of obesity, pre-diabetes, and other health problems which historically would have been expected to develop much later in life. The findings of a new study by Texas Biomed scientists in San Antonio argue for early screening and intervention to delay or avoid chronic health problems as these children age.

12 Jul 2013

Patients suffering from severe Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease can benefit from reconstructive surgery

For patients suffering from Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease - a surprisingly common neurological disorder that can cause the feet to become weak and contorted - surgery is considered a last resort. But for patients like Elissa Williams and her brother Kyle, surgery can bring an end to crippling pain and lead to active lives with feet facing forward and balanced on the ground.

12 Jul 2013

Scientists evaluate past outbreaks and pandemic potential of H7 subtype influenza viruses

The emergence of a novel H7N9 avian influenza virus in humans in China has raised questions about its pandemic potential as well as that of related influenza viruses.

12 Jul 2013

Study shows cigarette smoke inhibits activity of key genes that protect heart and lungs

New insights into why obese cigarette smokers experience a high risk of heart disease suggest that cigarette smoke affects the activity of hundreds of key genes that both protect the heart and lungs and expose them to damage.

11 Jul 2013

Protein used by cancer cells also plays a vital role in heart health

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists have discovered that a protein used by cancer cells to evade death also plays a vital role in heart health. This dual role complicates efforts to develop cancer drugs that target the protein, but may lead to new therapies for heart muscle damage. The research appeared in the June 15 edition of the scientific journal Genes & Development.

11 Jul 2013

Research finding may offer novel path for cancer drug design

Genetic mutations aren't the only thing that can keep a protein called PTEN from doing its tumor-suppressing job. Johns Hopkins researchers have now discovered that four small chemical tags attached (reversibly) to the protein's tail can have the same effect, and they say their finding may offer a novel path for drug design to keep PTEN working.

10 Jul 2013

Study confirms role of MAPK mutations in pilocytic astrocytomas

Brain cancer is the primary cause of cancer mortality in children. Even in cases when the cancer is cured, young patients suffer from the stress of a treatment that can be harmful to the developing brain. In a search for new target structures that would create more gentle treatments, cancer researchers are systematically analyzing all alterations in the genetic material of these tumors.

10 Jul 2013

New approach delivers RNA drugs to silence malfunctioning genes

Silencing genes that have malfunctioned is an important approach for treating diseases such as cancer and heart disease. One effective approach is to deliver drugs made from small molecules of ribonucleic acid, or RNA, which are used to inhibit gene expression. The drugs, in essence, mimic a natural process called RNA interference.

10 Jul 2013

Low vitamin D blood levels associated with greater risk of heart disease varies by race, ethnicity

Low vitamin D blood levels are linked to greater risk of heart disease in whites and Chinese, but not in blacks and Hispanics, according to a study appearing this week in JAMA, a journal published by the American Medical Association.

10 Jul 2013

Researcher uncover biomarkers from stem cells derived from bone marrow of ALS patients

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating motor neuron disease that rapidly atrophies the muscles, leading to complete paralysis. Despite its high profile - established when it afflicted the New York Yankees' Lou Gehrig - ALS remains a disease that scientists are unable to predict, prevent, or cure.

10 Jul 2013

Working shift patterns associated with increased risk of subfertility and menstrual disruption

Shift work, which encourages sleep deprivation and patterns of activity outside the circadian rhythm, has been associated with a greater risk of ill health and loss of well-being in some (but not all) studies.(1) However, little is known about the effects of shift work on reproductive health and fertility.

9 Jul 2013

Key metabolites in blood could provide clues to long-term overall health and ageing

Scientists have found that key metabolites in blood - chemical 'fingerprints' left behind as a result of early molecular changes before birth or in infancy - could provide clues to a person's long-term overall health and rate of ageing in later life.

9 Jul 2013

Physicians have new resource for managing disease in patients with early-stage breast cancer

Physicians have a new resource for managing disease in patients with early-stage breast cancer. Patients diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ -- cancer that has not left the breast ducts -- now have the benefit of a multi-gene analysis that considers gene patterns to individualize therapy and determine the chance for recurrence, potentially sparing the patient additional therapy.

9 Jul 2013

Oklahoma Norman campus researchers receive OCAST grants for health research projects

Four University of Oklahoma Norman campus researchers were awarded OCAST grants for health research projects on subjects that range from the development of bone grafts using adult stem cells to the identification of genes to block parasite development in mosquitoes to new drug development pipelines to improvements in limb movement.

9 Jul 2013

ERC awards grants to boost research on vaccines

Vaccination has achieved huge success in controlling many devastating infectious diseases. However, there are still many such diseases, or 'pathogens', against which we cannot generate life-long protective immunity.

9 Jul 2013

Mouse study identifies new treatment options for bowel cancer

Researchers have discovered the genetic processes that cause specific types of bowel cancer. Using this knowledge, they identified cancer drugs that target these genes. Their findings offer the opportunity to develop personalised treatment based on a person's genetic profile.

9 Jul 2013

Genes News and Research

'Defanged' HIV used to deliver gene therapy

First Edition: July 12, 2013

International team explores genetic diversity of Plasmodium vivax in the Americas

Genome sequencing promises to identify rare mutations that give rise to autism

Risk-factor screening of high-risk children may delay or prevent chronic health conditions later in life

Patients suffering from severe Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease can benefit from reconstructive surgery

Scientists evaluate past outbreaks and pandemic potential of H7 subtype influenza viruses

Study shows cigarette smoke inhibits activity of key genes that protect heart and lungs

Protein used by cancer cells also plays a vital role in heart health

Research finding may offer novel path for cancer drug design

Study confirms role of MAPK mutations in pilocytic astrocytomas

New approach delivers RNA drugs to silence malfunctioning genes

Low vitamin D blood levels associated with greater risk of heart disease varies by race, ethnicity

Researcher uncover biomarkers from stem cells derived from bone marrow of ALS patients

Working shift patterns associated with increased risk of subfertility and menstrual disruption

Key metabolites in blood could provide clues to long-term overall health and ageing

Physicians have new resource for managing disease in patients with early-stage breast cancer

Oklahoma Norman campus researchers receive OCAST grants for health research projects

ERC awards grants to boost research on vaccines

Mouse study identifies new treatment options for bowel cancer

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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